\nURGENT ACTION\n<\/p>\n
\nSYRIAN MAN RELEASED\n<\/p>\n
\nWa’el Hammada, a Syrian man who had been held incommunicado
\ndetention and reportedly subjected to torture and other ill-treatment, was
\nreleased on bail on 1 August. He and his brother ‘Abd al-Rahman Hammada have
\nbeen charged and are currently awaiting trial.\n<\/p>\n
\nFollowing his arrest on 12 May and incommunicado detention
\nat an Air Force Security branch in Damascus, Wa’el Hammada was taken before an
\ninvestigative judge on 12 July. He was allowed to meet with his lawyer for 15
\nminutes. The judge charged Wa’el Hammada with “weakening national sentiment”
\n(Article 285 of the Syrian Penal Code), “causing sectarian strife” (Article
\n307), charges related to participation in “secret organizations” (Article 327)
\nand charges related to participation in and incitement of riots (Articles 335
\nand 336).\n<\/p>\n
\nOn the same day, Wa’el Hammada was taken to ‘Adra prison,
\nnear Damascus, where he remained until his release. During his detention at
\n‘Adra, he was allowed to receive visits from his lawyer. He is now reunited
\nwith his family while awaiting trial.\n<\/p>\n
\nAmnesty International has been informed that Wa’el Hammada
\nwas kept in solitary confinement during the last 25 days of his initial
\ndetention at the Air Force Security branch. Reliable sources have said that he
\nwas tortured and otherwise ill-treated while held there and that his
\ninterrogation was focused on the activities of his wife, Razan Zaitouneh, a
\nprominent Syrian human rights lawyer. Amnesty International therefore believes
\nthat his charges may be related both to his own peaceful involvement in popular
\nprotests calling for political reform and to the human rights work of his wife.\n<\/p>\n
\nThanks to all of those who took action on behalf of Wa’el
\nHammada and his brother ‘Abd al-Rahman Hammada. No further appeals from the
\nnetwork are required at present but Amnesty International will continue to
\nmonitor this case.\n<\/p>\n
\nThis is the first update of UA 232\/11.\n<\/p>\n